Illinois State University, founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is a "National University," which grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research and is recognized one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. ISU's was ranked 156 in the 2011 US News ratings; among public universities in Illinois, only two schools, both from the University of Illinois system, rank higher. Illinois State University was most recently ranked the 95th best public in-state university value and 60th public out-of-state value by Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine in the January 2011 issue. It is also ranked as the 216 best national university in the U.S. by the Washington Monthly. ISU is also ranked as the 83rd best public university in the national universities category by US News & World Reports. The ISU athletic teams are members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference and are known as the "Redbirds," in reference to the state bird, the cardinal.